More than 14,000 bicycles have been stolen from railway stations over the past three years as Britain’s bike theft epidemic continues, MailOnline can reveal.
Some 4,106 cycles were taken from stations across the UK last year – the equivalent of 11 each day – with Cambridge North by the far the worst with 119.
Other stations serving London commuters made up the top five – including St Albans City with 83, Reading at 69, Didcot Parkway on 58 and Bedford at 50.
Competing the top ten were Cheltenham Spa with 48, Oxford and Norwich both on 47, Surbiton with 44 and Guildford on 38, according to British Transport Police data.
While the 2024 total was down by 14 per cent on 2023 when 4,678 were taken, over the past three years some 14,161 bikes have now been reported stolen from stations.
Compare the Market, which obtained the data under Freedom of Information laws, warned that the total could be much higher because not all bike thefts are reported.
Given a new bicycle costs an average of £502 according to Mintel research, thefts from stations could have cost victims around £7million between 2022 and 2024.
Meanwhile bicycle thefts on trains have risen year-on-year after 98 were stolen in 2024, which was up 14 per cent on 2023 when 84 cycles were taken from trains.
Some 119 bicycles were stolen from Cambridge North station last year, according to police data
An aerial view of the cycling storage area (pictured, centre) at Cambridge North station
| 2023 | ++ | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge North Railway Station | 143 | ++ | Cambridge North Railway Station | 119 |
| St Albans City Railway Station | 92 | ++ | St Albans City Railway Station | 83 |
| Woking Railway Station | 86 | ++ | Reading Railway Station | 69 |
| Walton-On-Thames Railway Station | 72 | ++ | Didcot Parkway Railway Station | 58 |
| Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station | 69 | ++ | Bedford Railway Station | 50 |
| Surbiton Railway Station | 64 | ++ | Cheltenham Spa Railway Station | 48 |
| Reading Railway Station | 62 | ++ | Norwich Railway Station | 47 |
| Twickenham Railway Station | 57 | ++ | Oxford Railway Station | 47 |
| Watford Junction Railway Station | 55 | ++ | Surbiton Railway Station | 44 |
| Cheltenham Spa Railway Station | 48 | ++ | Guildford Railway Station | 38 |
Cambridge North also came top for station bike thefts in 2023 with a higher total of 143 – as reported by MailOnline in January – while St Albans City was second on 92.
Woking was third in 2023 with 86, but did not feature at all in the top ten for 2024. It was followed in 2023 by Walton-on-Thames at 72 and Bristol Temple Meads on 69.
In both 2024 and 2023, each of the top ten stations were in southern England – although the data covers all of the UK.
In an attempt to combat the problem at Cambridge North, which only opened in 2017, rail operator Greater Anglia – which manages the station – opened a secure cycle parking area costing £600,000.
Fencing was installed around part of original cycle parking area to try to deter thieves, with 730 spaces available via a key fob costing £25 a year to access the area which opened in May 2024.
Anna McEntee, insurance expert at Compare the Market, told MailOnline: ‘Thieves will often target bikes left at stations while their owners commute to work or school.
‘Many cyclists depend on their bikes for everyday transport, so this crime is particularly costly and inconvenient for victims.
‘Ensuring your bike is insured, either through specialist bicycle insurance or through personal possessions cover outside the home, can help offer piece of mind for cyclists that depend on it.’
Bike racks were suspended outside St Albans City in Hertfordshire amid a spate of thefts
Cyclists are being encouraged to use a ‘Cycle Hub’ storage area outside St Albans City station
Some 69 bicyles were stolen from Reading station last year, according to the police figures
She added that cyclists note should ensure their bike is stored securely and not left for more than 24 hours for some insurance policies to be valid.
Ms McEntee also said: ‘If your bike is stolen, you should report it to the police straight away. You will need a crime reference number for any insurance claim. You can then contact your insurance provider to start the claim process.’
The affluent commuter city of St Albans – with an average house cost of £640,000 and just 20 minutes from London by train – is among the areas to have become blighted by bike thefts in recent years.
In attempt to combat the problem, bosses at the Thameslink-run St Albans City station taped off the bike racks outside following advice by British Transport Police (BTP).
Black and yellow warning tape was placed over the Sheffield bike stands, preventing commuters from locking up their bikes directly outside the station.
Station managers instead urged passengers to use the ‘Cycle Hub’, a free locked parking area which has CCTV and can be accessed with a fob from the ticket office.
MailOnline has contacted BTP and Greater Anglia for comment.
